TiGenix has entered into a partnerships with the largest patient advocacy groups focused on Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis in the United States (US) and Europe.

TiGenix said on Thursday that it has joined the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation’s President’s Corporate Circle in the US, and in Europe it has signed a sponsorship agreement with the European Federation of Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis Associations (EFCCA). TiGenix said in its press release that it would work with both organizations to broaden the understanding and awareness of complex perianal fistulas in Crohn’s disease.

Dr. Mary Carmen Diez from commercial and medical affairs at the Belgian company said the delitght of joining to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation and EFCCA in their ongoing efforts is in bringing novel treatment options to patients with IBD.

“Complex perianal fistulas are a relatively common, severe and debilitating complication of Crohn’s disease for which there remains a large unmet medical need,” she said.

Michael Osso, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, said that the Foundation is at the forefront of research in inflammatory bowel diseases, convening key stakeholders – researchers, physicians, and healthcare companies – to unite the IBD community with a focus on bringing new treatment options to our patients.

He said: “Our President’s Corporate Circle members support us in our mission to do impactful and crucial work to improve the lives of patients living with IBD and find cures for these diseases. We look forward to working with TiGenix alongside our other esteemed and committed industry partners.”

Martin Kojinkov, EFCCA’s chairman added: “The overall objective of the EFCCA is to improve the quality of life of people living with IBD and to raise awareness of associated diseases.”

TiGenix is currently developing Cx601 for the treatment of complex perianal fistulas. The company has filed Cx601 for potential approval in Europe with the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and anticipates a decision in the second half of 2017. In addition, on June, 13, TiGenix announced the launch of a global pivotal Phase III study to support a future regulatory filing in the U.S.

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